By the numbers...THE COURIER / Tommy Parker Russellville's Ryan Talley (3) hauls in a pass for over 70 yards during Friday's win over the Benton Panthers in the semifinals of the Class 6A State Tournament.

History makersJami Mullen hugged me after the Russellville Cyclones 45-15 win over the Benton Panthers on Friday in the semifinals of the Class 6A State Tournament. Her son, Michael Mullen, who plays linebacker for the Cyclones, was celebrating his senior year on a historic football team with a chance to win it all on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. It wasn't the first time she hugged me at the end of a season. My first year covering football, her older s...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

A nice Ozark buckI climbed into my treestand after an uneventful morning hunt where I had only seen one doe. I changed locations just to have a change of scenery and to adjust to the rare northerly winds on this unseasonably warm October day. Perhaps this evening, things would be different because my season was starting off with a slow pace. My food plots were looking terrible, despite all of my efforts. The lack of rain during September created the perfect st...

Cold weather bass fishingBass fishing is a challenge for most of us on an annual basis, but things get even tougher during the fall and winter months presenting some interesting challenges for bass anglers, especially when it comes to tournament fishing. Believe it or not, comfort and warmth play a huge role in an angler's success, because if you are not warm your concentration will be lacking. Te enjoyment of fishing will be totally lost and during times when bites a...

Trout Day is Saturday at Pleasant View Park pondFOR THE COURIER The CADDIS Fly Fishing Club, Russellville Recreation and Parks Department and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) are again partnering to bring seasonal trout fishing to Russellville. The AGFC will stock Pleasant View Park pond with 1,200 Rainbow Trout, and TROUT DAY 2016 will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. This will be an opportunity for folks of all ages to "Catch a Limit of Trout in Russellville." The AGFC...

Undefeated Wonder Boys play at home todayArkansas Tech University will play its first non-conference men's basketball game of the 2016-17 season by hosting Graceland University at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Saturday, Nov. 26. Tickets ($5 adults, $3 students and senior citizens) will be available at the door. Those with a valid Arkansas Tech identification card will be admitted free of charge. Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (2-0) vs. Graceland Yellowjackets (4-3) When: Saturday, No...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Little Johns fall in OTDANVILLE — The Danville Little Johns tied the game 21-21 with 32 seconds left in regulation but came up short in overtime against the Mount Ida Lions. The Little Johns scored first in overtime on a 1-yard run by Jake Madding, but the ensuing field goal was blocked to leave a window open for the Lions. Mount Ida scored and hit its field goal to win the game 28-27 and advance to the Class 2A semifinals on Friday. Danville ended its season 11-1. ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Red Devils fall to Greyhounds 35-19ATKINS — Three turnovers by the Red Devils and two touchdowns in the third quarter gave the Newport Greyhounds a 35-19 victory Friday night in the Class 3A football playoff quarterfinals. Atkins (9-3) senior quarterback Seth Haney — one of nine Red Devils seniors who won nine games for Atkins and finished second in the 3A-4 Conference — threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Trey Davis with 1:18 to go in the fourth quarter. It not only set the fina...

CYCLONES ADVANCE TO STATEBilly Dawson lifted his hands in the air before addressing the Russellville Cyclones following their 45-15 victory over the Benton Panthers on Friday at Cyclone Stadium. For a moment, no one moved. "Who would have ever dreamed this?" Dawson asked eventually. The Cyclones (11-1) are the first football team in Russellville school history to play in the finals of the Class 6A State Championship. They're the first team in school history to win 11 ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

One more to gloryRussellville Cyclones head coach Billy Dawson isn't expecting the same Benton Panthers his team defeated 45-24 earlier this year to show up Friday at Cyclone Stadium in the semifinals of the Class 6A State Tournament. "I think it's two different teams," he said. "We will know their personnel, they'll know ours, but I think the way we both go into games, the plans have changed." Dawson said the Panthers (8-4) aren't the same team -- they're bet...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Red Devils prepared for NewportATKINS -- It's never a bad thing to be practicing football on Thanksgiving. For Red Devils head coach Tommy Cody, it's a sign you're team is doing something right. Atkins (9-2-1) hosts the (10-2) Newport Greyhounds tonight at Sorrels Stadium at Lemley field. Cody described the Greyhounds as "the fastest team we've faced all season." "They're probably the most athletic," he said. "They're a really good football team, although they are a very yo...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Ryan George named CSI Participant of the MonthCommunity Service First Tee Participant of the Month Community Service, Inc. (CSI) has named Ryan George as the First Tee Participant of the month for November. Ryan attends Upper Elementary Fifth Grade in Russellville is the son of Melissa Feltner and Steve George. "Ryan comes with to class with a positive attitude and a great sense of humor; you can always count on Ryan to crack a joke during class," said Sam Taylor, CSI First Tee Coach. "He...

Did you know?Friday's Class 6A semifinal game against the Benton Panthers could be a chance to right past wrongs. The Panthers knocked Russellville from the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, Benon's All-State running back Wallace Foote, who went on to play for Arkansas Tech University, accounted for 645 yards during the Panthers' 53-34 win at Cyclone Stadium. In 2013, Benton won 36-35 on a fake field goal on the final play of regulation. This year, the C...

Lady Lizards drum Lady Bulldogs, 52-23WALDRON -- The Dardanelle Lady Sand Lizards defeated the Waldron Lady Bulldogs 52-23 on Monday. "Our kids did a great job of competing tonight," Lady Sand Lizards head coach Kenny McCoy said. "I am proud of the effort the girls gave in practice last week in preparation for tonight's game. I loved how hard we played all four quarters tonight. "We still have several things we need to improve on, and I know our girls will come to practice and pus...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Pirates get home win, 47-44DOVER -- The Dover Lady Pirates grabbed a 47-44 win over the Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows on Tuesday inside Pirate Gymnasium. "This was another hard-fought battle and after some big adjustments at halftime, we were fortunate to come out with a win," Lady Pirates head coach Charlie Melton said. "We were very proud of our girls showing a lot of pride in the second half." The score was tied 12-12 after the first quarter, and Dover trailed 24-18 at h...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Wildcats outgun DoverDOVER -- The Hector Lady Wildcats took down the Dover Lady Pirates 52-43 on Tuesday inside Pirate Gymnasium. Hector led 16-13 after the first quarter and 31-21 at halftime. After the third quarter, the Lady Wildcats were up 39-33. Hector was led in scoring by Darci Fountain and Paige Lee with 13 points each. Cassidy Haley scored 11 points. Dover was led by Kelsi Hottinger, who scored 16 points. Hector SG 39, Atkins 34 HECTOR -- The Lady Wildca...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley